If you’ve ever kept a sketchbook, you know the joy of admiring and appreciating the work you’ve done. Drawing is a very personal experience, and keeping a sketchbook can be a very intimate process. But what happens when your sketchbook inevitably collects dust? There is no better way to start a new sketchbook than by designing an exclusive cover for it.
The ability to draw is a gift that is often taken for granted. However, drawing is not just for art classes; it can be a creative outlet of its own.
What is a Sketchbook?
A sketchbook is a blank drawing book that you draw into. It can be as simple as a lined page or as detailed as your imagination allows. This is a great way to take a break from your day and relax with a blank page.
Most artists use sketchbooks to record their creative process, from planning out a design to finalizing a piece. One of the most common uses for sketchbooks is for doodles, sketches, and other unplanned concepts to collect ideas and thoughts for whatever project you are working on at the time. But what if you want to keep a sketchbook of your designs? How do you decorate it?
We all have a sketchbook in our lives, whether it’s a small pocket-sized spiral book or one we carry in our back pocket. I like to carry a small sketchbook in my back pocket, especially when I’m going to a new place or taking a train or plane.
Here’s are some tips on designing your sketchbook:
- Arrange and categorize.
Decorating your sketchbook is similar to decorating your home. Drawers of paint, pots of glue, and stacks of paper with ideas need to be arranged and categorized. This is a critical first step to ensure you are getting your ideas onto paper in a proper and organized way. The same thinking applies to sketches, which can often be a messy jumble of ideas and thoughts. Over time, these sketches can grow in number. In the past, the best way to keep them organized was to keep them together in a sketchbook.
- Use traditional bookbinding techniques.
Involves sewing the pages together with thread. However, this can be a time-consuming activity, not to mention it is a very costly method to use. If you choose this method, then you will have to buy a bookbinding kit. One way to decorate your sketchbook is with a traditional bookbinding technique. This involves folding and stitching paper pages together with thread and leather. First, cut strips of paper to the size you will be folding, then fold them in half along the length of the paper and crease.
- Use stencils.
Another alternative to decorating your sketchbook is to use stencils. You can buy various stencils online or in your local art store. Whether you are sketching out a design for a poster or just thinking about how your next piece of art should look, stencils are a great way to get your ideas on paper—fast. These can be used to design papercraft projects or create a template for your next sketchbook easily. For example, a stencil can be used to create a sketch of a basic design quickly, or a stencil template can be simply used to sketch out the composition of a complex piece of art.
- Use stickers.
Another way that you can decorate your sketchbook is by using stickers. This is a very inexpensive method, but you will also have to apply the stickers to your sketchbook.
- Use Photoshop techniques.
Lastly, you can decorate your sketchbook using Photoshop techniques. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned artist, you will want to know what some of the basic Photoshop techniques are to improve your skills. But if you don’t know how to begin, it is best to start with the basics.
I’ve always had a sketchbook of sorts, where I would scribble down ideas and random thoughts. Sometimes I would draw out something or make a quick sketch of something. My sketchbooks were always a mix of art, drawing, doodling, and sometimes even poetry. I even kept these in a big box under my bed. Now I don’t usually make sketches in my sketchbooks anymore, but I still like to make doodles and scribbles. This is something I have always wanted to know about.